SLEEP one, two, three, four …..

POWER OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION – you feel groggy, disoriented, and sleepy at inconvenient times, i.e. – get sleepy when you’re in a boring meeting, struggle through the afternoon slump, or doze off after dinner. Production of melatonin can be thrown off when you’re deprived of sunlight during the day or exposed to too much artificial light at night, disrupting the sleep-wake cycle and preventing you from getting the sleep you need. Mood Energy Efficiency Ability to handle stress Most of the signs of sleep deprivation are much more subtle than falling face first into your dinner plate. Furthermore, if you’ve made a habit of skimping on sleep, you may not even remember what it feels like to be wide- awake, fully alert, and firing on all cylinders.

The effects of sleep deprivation and chronic lack of sleep,,,,,, Fatigue, lethargy, and lack of motivation Moodiness and irritability Reduced creativity and problem-solving skills Inability to cope with stress Reduced immunity; frequent colds and infections Concentration and memory problems Weight gain Impaired motor skills and increased risk of accidents Difficulty making decisions Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems

You may be sleep deprived if you... DEEP SLEEP DEPRIVWTION – Being woken during the night. (by outside noise, for example, or in order to care for a crying baby). – Working night shifts or swing shifts. Getting quality deep sleep during the day can be difficult, due to light and excess noise. – Smoking or drinking in the evening. Substances like alcohol and nicotine can disrupt deep sleep. It’s best to limit them before bed. o Need an alarm clock in order to wake up on time o Rely on the snooze button o Have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning o Feel sluggish in the afternoon o Get sleepy in meetings, lectures, or warm rooms o Get drowsy after heavy meals or when driving o Need to nap to get through the day o Fall asleep while watching TV or relaxing in the evening o Feel the need to sleep in on weekends o Fall asleep within five minutes of going to bed

Try the Sheep Dash test in the Resources section at the ABOVE SITE to see how well rested you really are. healthy/getting/bio-clock 2. VIDEO : You and Your Biological Clock: Finding Your Sleep/Wake Rhythm launch interactivelaunch interactive Two internal systems interact to regulate when we sleep and when we are awake. Take a tour of these systems, and then explore factors that disrupt their normal interaction.tour treatment/sleep-disorders-screening-survey 3. Sleep Disorders Screening Survey Take this simple test on line to determine whether you may have a sleep disorder that requires medical treatment.

Tips for getting & staying out of sleep debt Aim for at least 7.5 hours of sleep every night. Make sure you don’t fall farther in debt by blocking off enough time for sleep each night. Consistency is the key. Settle short-term sleep debt with an extra hour or two per night. If you lost 10 hours of sleep, pay the debt back in nightly one or two-hour installments. Keep a sleep diary. Record when you go to bed, when you get up, your total hours of sleep, and how you feel during the day. As you keep track of your sleep, you’ll discover your natural patterns and get to know your sleep needs. Take a sleep vacation to pay off a long-term sleep debt. Pick a two-week period when you have a flexible schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night and allow yourself to sleep until you wake up naturally. No alarm clocks! If you continue to keep the same bedtime and wake up naturally, you’ll eventually dig your way out of debt and arrive at the sleep schedule that’s ideal for you. Make sleep a priority. Just as you schedule time for work and other commitments, you should schedule enough time for sleep. Instead of cutting back on sleep in order to tackle the rest of your daily tasks, put sleep at the top of your to-do list.

get on a healthy sleep schedule Just as exercise and nutrition are essential for optimal health and happiness, so is sleep. Learn how to maximize your sleep quality and sleep well every night by following a regular sleep-wake schedule, developing a relaxing bedtime routine, and improving your sleep environment. Making behavioral changes that include establishing a consistent sleep/wake schedule, avoiding caffeine late in the day, and limiting your exposure to light at bedtime are just a few things that can help reduce the effects of sleep difficulties.

SLEEP The End.